Tramadol Addiction but need something for the back pain!?!

[Brokedown_Palace]

Hi! Today is day 8 for me of being off Tramadol. The first 4-5 days were okay bc I had the help of Vicoden. Yes, you read correctly. I have never felt the "high" ppl talk about when they mention Vicoden. Maybe it's bc I have a high tolerance...not sure...but out of those 2 i always preferred Tramadol. Vicoden was just there for withdrawals, or if I felt I needed more Tram i would sub it for a Vicoden.

Anyways, that helped as well as Klonapin I take for anxiety. It's such a low low dose though that I'd have take more than prescribed to help the withdrawals...which is what I'm trying to avoid!

I weaned myself down to 1 tram for 4 days then stopped. (it took me MONTHS to get to that point). So, day 5 came and I only had the Klonapin. That's when things started going downhill. I've experienced the horrible withdrawals from Tram but they never included excruciating back pain. My back would hurt when I was going through withdrawal but not like this!  

Is there anything I can take like an herbal supplement or something to that effect? Yes, I have tried Advil and Tylenol and they don't even touch the pain. Plus, I don't want to damage my liver more than it might already be : /  I have heard of this "all natural" stuff called Kratom that you can get online. But have read mixed reviews. Have seen ppl use it (wisely) for withdrawals and a mild painkiller and others who are addicted to it. Last thing I want. I have also tried ice and heat. Heat helps but just for a very short period of time.

Any suggestions, comments, experiences would be greatly appreciated. I just really don't want to go back to Tramadol when I've come this far. I could if I wanted to, but it's just not what I need right now. It practically ruined my life and I'm just beginning to pick up the pieces.

Notes To Add:
- I am also on Adderall IR 20mg (for 1 month now)
- I was on and off Tramadol for almost 10 years. Longest and highest dosage was this last time which was for a year straight. This is MY first attempt to get rid of it for good.
- I have a herniated disc, pinched nerve, sciatica, a lightly curved spine at lower back and my hips aren't aligned correctly.

[ToPretty4Pills]

My uncle has been clean for 1 year from a 25 year addiction to opiates. He too suffers from back pain. He takes Ultram. Congrats on your decision to quit opiates. Please be VERY careful with the adderall. I am not saying that you don't need something but, there are others Med's that you can take for A.D.D. that are not addictive. I have about 5 girlfriends that are addicted to that. I saw one of there bottles and it is generic for Methamphetemine Salts. Dangerous stuff. Please keep posting. Wishing you the best of luck :-)

[LeaAnn807]

GREAT advice! I'll reiterate what she said about not going back on tramadol and not trying Kratom.  It has a high addiction as well.  It's hard to believe that something natural could do that, but it can.  I promise.  I've never tried it, but I've read alot about it being abused.  Dangerous stuff and shaky ground.  If you truly don't want to get back on narcotics, stay away from the stuff.  No tramadol.  No kratom.  No vicodin.  No upping the klonopin.  No NOTHING! LOL Sounds like I don't have any compassion, but that isn't true.  I've got a compression fracture and disc problem below it.  I'm having procedures done where they go in and sever the nerves that go to the pain area.  It's wonderful and keeps me off of pills.  It's done in three surgeries.  (no cutting.  Just using a small cathater that runs in and uses light source to burn nerves!) I've had the first one.  Plus, I had several steroid injections and all kinds of tests.  

You can find a doctor in your area who will help you without the use of narcotics, IF you tell them about your addiction probs.  You have to be honest, or you'll end up right back where you are.  Most doctors will help you!  Just gotta find the right one! : )

Congrats on quitting.  Now......get off that vicodin and move on!  You're doing good.  Oh...and only use the klonopin when needed. The stimulant you're on with adderall may make the WDs feel worse right now. It will make the skin crawly feeling worse.  RLS worse.  Heart pounding worse.  In general, any stimulant isn't good during opiate WDs.  Can I ask why you are on that?  Maybe you could skip it for a bit until you're feeling better?  Sleeping will be hard enough right now without adderall keeping you awake even more!

[ImDONENoMore]

Hmm.. well this is a difficult one to respond to.. because you're taking these other meds.

Kratom?  Bad idea if you asked me.  And upping the dose of your klonopin also a bad idea.  Have you tried physical therapy?  Accupuncture?  Massages?  Warm heat or hot baths (yes, you will need a LOT of those)?  But there are a lot of alternatives to managing your pain so I think it's best to connect with your Dr. and find a plan that works for you that doesn't include taking narcotics.

You sound like you're considering returning to the tramadol.  PLEASE - don't do it.  It was my DOC as well and as you know, the relief the tram brings to your pain isn't worth the horrible withdrawals and all those nasty side effects.  It just isn't.

And sadly, many of us have to deal w/our pain for the rest of our lives.  Like me.  I have OA and some days, the pain is relentless.  But going back on narcotics is no longer an option for me and I have found, with time, that the OTC meds work very well.  And that might end being the case for you.

Good luck to you - and don't give up.  Life off tramadol is so much better than it ever was when I was on it.  As I mentioned, no, my pain didn't disappear entirely.  But my life improved dramatically, even with the pain.  And a lot of pain sufferers find they go through rebound pain initially and it subsides with more clean time.

Congrats on the 8 days - only remember, it's still very early on in your recovery and you need to give yourself more time to be able to fully gauge your pain.  You might find with more time it's not nearly as bad as you thought.